After more than a decade on the scene, Canadian electronic pop duo Purity Ring is gearing up for their long-anticipated self-titled album. The release of "imanocean" marks their fourth single from the project.
Fans of Purity Ring's first three albums have become accustomed to a complex production full of electronic sounds, layers of clear and filtered vocals, and heavy swells of synths. The other singles from this project have mirrored their established universe of super-electronic production, featuring a glitchy, almost video game–like approach.
"imanocean," however, is an entirely different side of Purity Ring.
Acoustic guitar and live drums lean into the "indie" side of indie-electronica, with hints of their signature vocal style and aesthetic echoing in the background. Lyrics have always been a strong suit of theirs, and this song is no exception. Ethereal, descriptive, and drawing from the beauty of the natural world around us, the words would be just as beautiful if they were not in a song.
This single is accompanied by a dreamy beachside music video, featuring lead singer Megan James on guitar and producer Corin Roddick on drums. In Purity Ring’s concerts since 2016, the focus has primarily been on a variety of electronic instruments, some of which are self-made.
With an enduring connection to the nostalgia of their fully electronic productions, it will be exciting to see what doors this new direction opens—and whether guitar and drums will feature in their upcoming tour dates beginning in October